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Legislation to change laws of succession to British crown

The Government has received consent from the Commonwealth realms to press ahead with legislation to change the laws of succession to the British crown.

The legislation will end the practice of men taking precedence over women in line to the throne, and end the bar on anyone in the line of succession marrying a Roman Catholic.

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg called the step a "historic moment".

It is a wonderful coincidence that the final confirmation from the other realms arrived on the very day that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge made their announcement.

The Government will soon introduce the Succession to the Crown Bill which will make our old fashioned rules fit for the 21st Century.

It will write down in law what we agreed back in 2011 – that if the Duke and Duchess Cambridge have a baby girl, she can one day be our Queen even if she later has younger brothers.

– Nick Clegg, Deputy Prime Minister